Washing machine



April 14, 1942- w. A. 'FRAN-rz l 2,279,510

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 19384 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR TVlter.l'rantz ATTORNEY April 14, 1942- w. A. FRANTz y 2,279,510

WASHING MACHINE Filed pril 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwnwwwwf N.

INVENToR PVlter f'rantz JM 7,1 ATToRNEv Patented Apr. 14, 1942 wasmN'a meme walter A. rmt. shaker Heights. omo, signor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Co pany, Cleveland; Ollio, a corporation oi Ohio Application April z. 1938, Serial No. 199,678 l 7 Claims. (Cl. 192-29) This invention relates to washing machines and more particularly tc an improved drive mechanism for the agitator, wringer and i'luid pump of a washing machine.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a gear mechanism to drive the washing machine agitator and wringer, in which aclutch is arranged to disengage the agitator drive without interrupting the wringer drive, in a novel manner which is more enicient and economical than the clutches heretofore provided to accomplish this result.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a washing machine with a motor, an agitator drive mechanism and a pump. wherein a belt connecting the motor and agitator normally follows a path spaced from the pump and wherein said belt may bemoved slightly from its normal path to euect a frictional drive of the pump.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a washing machine in accordance with the preceding object, wherein the belt movement is controlled by a novel spring and toggle arrangement which may be easily manipulated by the user of the washing machine and which will efilciently perform the functions for which it is designed.

It is a further object of my vide a washing niachine with an agitator and wringer drive mechanism in whicha clutch invention to proi the driving or non-driving relation between the clutch parts.

It is also among the objects of my invention to provide a washing machine drive mechanism wherein continuous rotary motion is converted .to oscillating motion to drive an agitator which includes means to prevent end play .and noise occasioned by the periodic load variation of the "agitator,

Further objects and advantages relating to emciency in operation and economies in manu-. facture will appear from the following descriptlonand the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure'l is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing a 4washing machine constructed according to my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial plan view showing a clutch operating toggle embodied in my mechanism havingdriving-and driven parts may 1 be manually 4operated to eiect a smooth and positive engaging or disengagins action between invention to prosaid parts.

It is a further object o! my Y vide a clutch mechanism lorl a washing machine in accordance with the preceding object in which invention: t

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines indicated at I-I in Figure 4, of a gear mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the gear arrange? ment shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation takenalongthelinel-loiFigurei:

Figure 6 is an elevation' partly in section taken substantially at right angles to the view of Figure 5;

Figure 'i is an enlarged plan view with parts broken away showing the clutch with the parts thereof in a disengaged position;

a part of the clutch controlling mechanism is manually moved and another part is automatically moved in response to th'e movement oi the driving and driven parts of the clutch. l

Itis a further object of Amy invention to provide a washing machine with a driving mechanism in accordance. with the preceding object, wherein the driving and driven parts of the clutch are coaxially arranged and one of said parts carries 'a plunger adapted to be received in a complementary recess in the other Part.

It is a more specific object oi my invention to provide a washing machine with a clutch in accordance with the preceding object in which aV -plurality of interconnected cam plates smoothly and positively control the movements of said plunger with respectA to its recess, Vto determine showing the clutch parts in an engaged position;

Figure 9 is a plan'view ct aclutch operating oi a vclutch control cam during clutch diseneasement.

The development lofthe washing machine artA `haisledto the general acceptance'by the industry and trade ci thattype otwashing machinehaving an oscillating agitator projecting upwardly als included a clutch between the power unit and agitator so that the agitator drive may be interrupted without affecting the drive to the wringer. Among the disadvantages found in prior art clutch arrangements are those related to the more or less skilled manual manipulation required to control the clutch. The complex nature andcost of certain prior art clutch constructions have also adversely aected their wide general use. According to my invention I propose that numerous disadvantages and defects found in the prior art shall be remedied by the provision of a simple, sturdy clutch which will present marked economy in manufacture and assembly.

Referring to the drawings, the plan view of Figure 1 illustrates a motor 5, a pump 29 and a wrlnger and agitator drive mechanism 59 mounted through hangers 68 at the under side of a washing machine tub, indicated at I. As will be understood by those familiar with this art, the

tub may be supported in the conventional manner' which may include a plurality of supporting legs 3 connected by a ring orskirt 2 with a suitable transverse brace to support the motor and the driving mechanism of the washing machine. The drivingvmechandsm indicated generally at 59 for the agitator shaft 5| and the wrlnger shaft 52 is preferably enclosed within a gear casing comprising complementary top and bottom halves 53 and 54. The agitator shaft 5| as to form suitable fan blades 62. The fan thus' formed will effect acirculation of the air beneath the tub in a manner to cool and ventilate the motor and gear case. 'I'he pulley 58 is provided at its center with an internally threaded nut 53 to secure the pulley to the threaded end 54 of the pulley shaft 59 and the disks 69 and 5|, forming the pulley, are bent away from each other at the periphery thereof to. form a V- groove to receive the belt l1 which transmits the motor drive to the gear mechanism.

To mount the motor 5 in a manner which will facilitate an adjustment in the tension in the belt `|1, the end frame of the motor is secured byscrews 8 or other suitable fastenings to a motor support plate 1, pivoted at one end to the brace as at 8. To regulate the tension in the drive belt I1, that end of \the motor support plate 1 which is remote from `the pivot 8 is slotted as at 9 in a manner which permits bodily swinging of the motor about pivot 8. A thumb screw or other suitable fastener I9 may be arranged through the a stub shaft 1| projecting upwardly from the bottom half 54 of the gear case. The gear 19 is a composite gear having teeth 12 at its larger periphery in mesh with teeth 85 on the pulley shaft 59 and teeth 13 in mesh with idler gear 14 of the wringer drive gearing. The gear 14 rotates freely on stub shaft 16 mounted in boss 11 of thelower casing part 54. A gear keyed as at 19m the wringer shaft 52 establishes a continuous chain of gears from the pulley shaft 59 to the wringer d shaft 52 so that; the wringer shaft 52 will conslot 9 to hold the motor in any selected adjusttinue to operate as long as the pulley shaft 59 rotates to drive the gear 19. The lower end of wringer shaft 52 is mounted for free rotation in the casing boss 18 and the upper end is journaled in sleeve 56 carried by the top casing part 53. 'I'he continuous rotary motion imparted to the driving gear 19 may be converted to oscillating motion at the agitator shaft 5| by means of the eccentric crank 89 connecting rod 8| and gear teeth 82-83, in accordance with the invention disclosed and claimed in the patent to J. W. Racklyeft No. 2,019,582, November 5, 1935. A pin 9| through rod 8| andbracket 92 journaled on the agitator shaft holds the gears 82-83 in operative relation. The continuous rotary motion of the driving gear 19 may also be converted to oscillating motion at the agitator shaft 5| by a rack and pinion or other similar expedient common to this art.

It will be understood that it is desirable to operate the wrlnger without actuation of the agitator shaft 5| and to effect selective agitator operation I prefer that the gear 19 be continuously rotated and that a clutch means be interposed between eccentric crank pin 89 and the drive gear 19. The clutch means according to my invention preferably comprises a member 99 which is mounted for free rotation on the bearing hub 84 of the driving gear 19. The member 99 and the driving gear 19 are suitably held in assembled relation on the stub shaft 1| by a washer and cap screw arrangement 85-86. The member 99 in effect comprises the driven part of a clutch wherein the gear 19 functions as the driving part ofthe clutch. As'illustrated in Figure 4, the driven part 99 of the clutch carries the crank pin 89 eccentrically of the center thereof and angularly spaced from the-pin is a boss which terminates concentrically with the inner periphery 81 of the driving gear 19. To effect a releasable drive between the clutch parts, the boss 95 is provided with a radially extended guide-way 98 which receives a spring-pressed plunger 91 having a nose portion |99 adapted to be projected into a complementary recess |9| formed at the innerperiphery of the driving gear During the washing operation the composite gear 19 is continuously rotated and through 4the wringer gears 14 and 15 the wringer shaft 52 is also continuously rotated. As will be understood by those lfamiliar' with this art, the wringerhead (not shown) ordinarily carries a clutching device to control the movement of the wringer rolls. Throughout that phase of the washing operation in which the agitator shaft 5| is oscillatedto wash the clothes, the nose piece |99 of the driven part of the clutch remains seatedy in the recess |9| of the driving part of the clutch'. This driving or engaged position is maintained by the compression spring |99 having one end thereof abutting the end wall |94 of the plunger guideway 96'and the other end thereof bearing against the end of a bore |95 formed in the plunger 91.

v shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

when, however, it is desired to stop the agitator oscillation without interfering with the wringer drive or stopping the power unit drive, the nose of the plunger 00 on the driven part of the clutch is forced from its vrecess |0| in the driving part of the clutch. s

To effect the clutch disengaging action above described, I prefer to employ a plurality of inare moved at least in part by a manually shiftable control rod |25. I'he cam plate ||0 which will hereinafter be referred to as the bottom cam Y terconnected cameplates ||0, and |20, which plate is provided with a non-circular aperture as at Il I, to effect a keyed relation with respect to a clutch operating shaft |30 pivoted for rotation in boss |29 formed in the lower half of the gear case 00 (see Figs. 9 and 12). A tail portion |00 on the bottom cam plate ||0 limits the plate movement in one direction by bearing against Vthe wall of the casing as shown in Fig. 9. The

cam platev ||0 which will be referred rto as the middle cam plate is arranged on the bottom cam plate ||0 and is provided with a circular aperture ||0 so that it may rotate freely with respect to the shaft |30 projecting therethrough. The free rotational movement of the middle cam plate ||5 with respect to the shaft |30 and the bottom cam plate islimited by an upturnecl lug ||2 `on the outside-of the path of boss 00 and the plunger nose |00.

when it is desired to discontinue theagitator action without interrupting the drive to the wringer, the clutch actuating shaft |00 may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction so as to swing all of the cam platesinto the path of the driven clutch parts as best shown in Fig. 13, whereupon the cam surface |21 forming a part of the boss 00 engages the nose or hook |20 on the cam plate |20. Continued rotation of the driving and driven clutch parts in the direction indicated by arrow 00, causes the top cam plate |20 to be rocked upon its pivot |2| in a counterclockwise direction independently of the bottom.

and middle cam plates and brings the cam surface ||8 of the middle cam plate ||0 into engagement with the nose |00 of the plunger. Further rotation of the driving and ldriven parts of the clutch in the direction of arrow 09. permits a clockwise movement of the hook |20 of the top cam plate into a radially extending recess 00 formedin the boss 95 (see Fig. 10). Said movement of the hook |20 is effected by a'spring |20.

bottom cam plate ||0 which is arranged to move arcuately in the notch ||1 of the middle cam plate. A tension spring ||3 is hooked in the apertures 00 and |01 of the cam plates ||0 and IIE, respectively, in a manner normally urging the middle cam plate I5 in a clockwise direction with respect to the shaft so that the lug ||2 will assume a position at one end of notch ||1 as The cam plate |20, hereinafter referred to as the top cam plate, is pivoted for rocking movement on the cap screw |2| carried by the lower half of the gear case. The top cam plate is arranged with portions overhanging the bottom and middle cam plates and is provided with anotch |22 and hook |23 cooperating with the upturned lug ||2 on the bottom cam plate H0.

By referring to Fig. 8 it will be observed. that when the clutch operating shaft |00 is turned to the position shown and maintained there by a toggle arrangement more fully hereinafter de scribed, the upturned lug II2 on the bottom cam plate l| |0 operates to swing the parts to the position shown in thisgur'e.` In swinging the top cam plate |20 counter-clockwise aboutits pivot, the lug ||2 bears along the curved notch |22 and through this curved bearing swings the plate |20 until the lug abuts the nose portion or hook |22, and portions of both plates ing part 00. The swinging movement of the plate |20 is accomplished against the tension of a coil spring |24 secured at one endl to the cam plate |20 at |20 and at the other end to the operating shaft A 30. During the swinging movement oi the top cam plate |20 to the position shown in Fig. 8', it will be observed that the middie cam plate ||5 is rotated in a clockwise direc-` after be referred to as'the engaged position of 'the clutch, inasmuch as with the cam.parts swung as described, all portionsthereof are disposed abut the wall ofcas- Simultaneously with the movement of the hook |20 into the recess 90,y the middle cam plate ||0 turns about its axis |00 in counter-clockwise direction by reason of its engagement with the nose |00 of the plunger 01.- The rolling of the middle cam.plate, thus described and shown in Fig. 14, forces the plunger s1 radiauy inward to fre'e the same of the notch |0| in the driving part o f the clutch. 'I'he hook |20 in recess 90 preventsv further rotational movement off the driven part 90. Thereafter the hook |20 bears against a radial wall of lthe recess 90 as vshown in Fig. 'I and the portion ||9 of the middle cam plate ||5 bears directly against the end of the nose |00 of the plunger to maintain the same out-of-engagement with the driving part of the -clutch 10.

With the clutch control and clutch parts in the position last described, the driving gear 10 may continue to rotate in response to the'rotation .of the power unit and transmit such rotation I to the wringer drive shaft 52. The agitator will remain idle during the maintenance of the last described position and lthis position will therefore be referred to as the disengaged position of the clutch. When it is again desired to op-l erste the agitator of the washing machine, the

clutch control shaft |30 may be rotated in a clockwise direction so as to cause the upturned llug ||2 of thev bottom cam plate ||0 lto swing the cam plates ||0 and |20 to the position shown in Fig. 8, wherein said parts are out of thepath of the driven part of the clutch. The resistance to drive through the agitator in the driven part of the clutch will cause said part to remain startionary until the driving part of the` clutch has rotated so as to bring the notch |0| into aligntion shown in Fig. 8. This position will hereinment withthe nose portion |00. A smooth annular bearing ring is formed on the top radial face of the driving part 10 as at 00 to provide free rotation between the driving and driven parts. As soon as said two parts |00and |0| are brought into alignment, the spring |03 forces the plunger 01 radially outward to es-L tablisl'i a driving relationship between the driv"4 ing and driven parts of the clutch. Smooth en -v gagement between the driving and driven clutch parts is facilitated by the rounded entrance por'- v tionl02 in the notch |0|.

From the foregoing description of the three cam plates ||0||0|20 and their operating relation with the driving and driven parts ,of the clutch, it will be appreciated that the control shaft |30 may be rotated from an engaged to a disengaged position or vice versa, during any phase of operation or at any time without regard to the position of the driving or drivenparts of the clutch. The interaction of the cam plates will be appreciated -when itis observed that with the clutch shaft |30 rotated clockwise to disengage the clutch, the nose portion of the plunger rst engages the middle cam plate ||5 and that the middlecam plate is urged to its position of Fig. 1 3 by a spring ||3. Thereafter the surface lila of ||0 holds the nose |00 out of the recess and plate restrains the driven member from rotation. In the event that the plate ||5 does not force the nose |00 out of the recess |0I, the nose will engage the cam surface ||0a of the bottom cam plate. This plate being fixed by its keyed relation to shaft positively forces the nose |00 out of its recess.

To facilitate the manual control of the clutch shaft |30, I preferably fix the upper end |3| thereof to one link |33 of a toggle mechanism indicated in its entirety at |35 (Fig. 2). The link |33 of the togglemechanism may be conveniently secured to the upper end of the shaft |35 by providing the link |33 with a non-circular aperture to receive a correspondingly shaped end of the shaft |30. The parts may be secured in their assembled relation by a nut |35 and washer |34. 'I'he end of the link |33 remote from the shaft |30 is pivotally connected to the other link |31 of the 'toggle as at |39.. The link |31 isl bifurcated at its other .end as at |35 to embrace a pin |3| projecting from the upper half 53 of the gear casing.

To give the toggle mechanism |35 a desirable snap action, a compression spring |40 is interposed between the pivoted end of the link |31 and the pin |4| projecting from the gear casing in part 53. Intermediate the ends of the link |33 an aperture is provided to receive a downturned end of the control rod |25. As shown in Fig. 1. the control rod v|25 terminates outside of th tub and its supporting structure in a handl |42, conveniently accessible to the operator of the washing` machine. By manipulating the control rod from its full-line position in Fig.

1,-to'its dotted-line position, it will be observed that the toggle |35 will snap from its full-line position (Fig. 2) to its dotted-line position and that this toggle movement is arranged to eil'ect an engaged or disengaged position of the clutch control cams ||0| |5|2l.

Referring again to the manual and automatic phases of the clutch control operation, it will be observed that the operator merely moves the controlrod |25 in one direction or the other so as to swing the toggle parts |35 past dead center position and this insures a quick positive' movement of the clutch cam plates. The quick positive movement of the clutch cam plates removes from the clutch control mechanism in a practical manner, the human element, and thus obviates anyneed for the operator of the washing machine to develop any skill or practice such as is required by certain types of clutchesto feel the clutch parts in and out of engagement. The fact that ,the human element in `theclutch control is in a measure removed, insures that theclutch parts will not be damaged by unskilled, casual or. careless-motions of the operator.

v other end of its operation, there is considerable variation in `load thrown into the entire agitator drive mechanism. This variation in load is reflected in the geared engagement between the,

pulley shaft 59 and the driving gear 10 through the gears 55-12. Helical gears areY preferably employed in the geared connection 55-12 which tend to reduce the noise occasioned by the load variations growing out of the agitator operation.

To insure a smooth quiet geared drive `at 55-12,

` in spite of any load variations caused by the agitator, I prefer to include in the mounting of the shaft 59 and the gear 55 carried thereby, a means operating to urge the gear and shaft in an axial direction in a manner to eliminate end play of the shaft and gear.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I effect the above-rferred-to function by providing the shaft v59 and gear 55 with an axially extending bore 4| proportioned to receive a compression spring 42 which in turn carries a hardened button 43 at its lower end having an abutting engagement through disk 44 with the lower half 54 of the gear casing. By referring to Fig. 5, it will be understood that the shaft 59 and the gear 55 thereon is supported inthe gear carrier through bearings and 45 above and below the gear and that the spring means 42 constantly urges the gear and shaft 55-59 upwardly against a thrust washer bearing 41. From the arrangement I have provided it will also be understood that the variations in load occasioned by the agitator oscillation and the tendency of said variations to produce end play in the pinion drive 55, such end play and attendant noise will be automatically compensated for through the spring mounting.

A further advantage of the spring mounting for the piniondrive 55-12 grows out of the use of helical gears at this point. A sudden application of load, such as turning on the starting motor with the agitator and wringer in gear, will be reflected in relatively high tooth pressures at 55-12. Through the use of helical gears, the tooth pressure at 55-12 will tend to effect longitudinal displacement of the gears with respect to each other. A limited longitudinal movement of the shaft 59l and the gears 55 carried thereby is permitted by compression in the spring 42 and thus the mounting of the pinion gear 55 provides a cushion against suddenly applied heavy loads.

'A further advantage associated with the pinion drive assembly I have provided, is'related to the ease with which the parts may be assembled. The gear carrier 3| is preferably a casting enclosing the major portion of the shaft 55 and gear 55. An opening 32 is provided to permit the meshing .of the gears 55-12, and to mount the gear carrier 3| and gear assembly .within the lower half of the gear casing 54, the shaft 59 is inserted through the 4bottom or large diameter opening of the gear carrier 3|. The spring 42 and During the operation of the agitator, the con- Y tinuously rotating movement of the driving lgear entire assembly bolted as at 34 through the ears 33 to the bottom half 54 of the gear casing.

`A port 35 provided at the top of the casting 3| permits the discharge within the gear casing of any lubricant which may work upwardly along the shaft 59. The groove 35 in shaft 59 entraps upwardly movinglubricant and centrifugally discharges such lubricant through the port ,35. A

through the top half 54 of the gear casing insures against any loss of lubricant at this point.

In accordance with the accepted' practice for washing machine gear cases of this type, I propose that the gear case shall be partially iilled with a lubricant and that suitable gaskets such as the casing gasket 61 be employed 'to prevent the loss of any lubricant. From the foregoing-description of the construction and operation of the agitator and wringer drive mechanism, it will be appreciated that a mechanism corresponding to my invention will be quiet in operation and will l v 2,279,510 d ielt washer 06 around the shaft where it extends emciently perform the functions for which it is designed. I preferably include in the driven parts of the washing machine a iluid pump drive which will function to force washing fluid drawn from the bottom of the tub upwardly through a hose (not shown) and discharge the same into a sink or the like above the level of the bottom of the washing machine tub. Since the fluid pump.

operation is intermittent in that it is not ordinarily required or desired during the washing operation, the most efiicient method of operating a fluid pump includes a means whereby the pump impeller rotation may be controlled by the operator.

of adapted to be moved into the circular path described by said plunger, 'boss' and recess to force said plunger from said recess and restrain said member from rotation with said composite gear.

4. A driving mechanism for a was'hing-Amachine comprising a drive gear mounted for continuous rotation, a driven member, said gear and t member coaxially arranged, a, peripheral shoul- Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention and the several elements entering into the combination which comprises my invention, in considerable detail, it will be `appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modiiications and colorable variations may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

I claim:

1. A driving mechanism for a washing machine comprising a driving gear mounted for rotation upon a vertical axis within a casing, a driven member coaxially arranged with respect to said gear, a peripheralportion of said gear formed to encompass a part of said member, said portion provided with a recess and said part provided with a -plunger adapted to enter said recess, means to control the position of saidA plunger with respect to said recess -comprising a cam carried by said casing havin'g a portion movable into the circular path described by said recess whereby to engage said plunger and move the same from the recess, a hookoperatively connected with said cam provided with a part adapted to be resiliently urged into engagement with said member to restrain the same against movement subsequent to plunger actuation by the cam.

2. A driving mechanism for a washing mal chine comprising a composite gear operatively associated with a power unit, an agitator drive element coaxially mounted with respect to said composite gear, a clutch interposed between said element and said composite gear provided with a plunger, a recess formed in said composite gear in alignment with the path described by said plunger, means normally urging said lplunger into said recess to establish a driving relationship between said member and said composite gear, a manually operated clutch control mounted adjacent the path described bysaid plunger provided with means to move into said path to 3. A driving mechanism for a washing mader having an opening therein formed on said gear, a boss having a spring-pressed plungei` formed on said member terminating adjacent said shoulder with the plunger arranged to enter said opening, and means to control the position of said plunger with respect to said opening coinprising an element movable into engagement with said plunger to force the same out of the opening and a second element movable into engagement with said boss to prevent rotation'of said member while said first-named element opcrates to hold the plunger out of the opening.

5. A driving mechanism for a washing machine comprising a drive gear mounted for continuous rotation and a coaxially-mounted, driven member connected to a pitman, a peripheral shoulder having a recess formed on said gear, a boss -formed on said member -terminating adjafcent said shoulder, a spring-pressed plunger carried by said boss arranged to enter said recess.

means to control the position of said plunger with respect to said recess comprising an element' resiliently urged into engagement with said plunger to force the same out of said recess and a second element movable into engagement with said member to prevent rotation of said member subsequent to the movement of the plunger out of the recess and toggle means operatively con--l nected to said elements to maintain theirl positions of engagement.

6. A driving mechanism for a washing machine having a driving member, a driven member, saidy members coaxially mounted with respect to each other and a clutchl interposed therebetween comprising a spring-pressed plunger carried by the driven member, a recess provided in the driving member in the plane of said plunger and adapted to receive the same,

means to control the clutch mounted -adjacent the periphery of said members for movement into the, path of said clutch parts, said means including one portion movable to engage'said plunger and force the same out of said recess, and another portion arranged to engage said driven member to restrain movement thereof subsevquent to the plunger movement eiected by said force said plunger out of -said recess and means flrst portion.

7. A driving mechanism for a washing may chine comprising a driving member, a driven member, a clutch interposed between said members comprising a spring-pressed element carried by the driven member, a recess provided in the driving memberin the plane of said element and adapted to receive part thereof, means to control the movement of the clutch parts mounted adjacent the periphery of the driving member for movement into the path of said clutch parts,

said means comprising a plurality of interconnected plates, one oi' said plates arranged to engage said element and .force the same out of the recess, another o;q said plates arranged to engage the clutch parts.

. WALTER A. FRANTZ. 

